Ambient Weather WS-2000 vs WS-2902

As you probably already know, the Ambient Weather WS-2000 and Ambient WS-2902 are two of the best home weather stations currently available. In fact, they both carry WxObservaton’s 5-star rating! I’ve been getting this question a lot lately…What are the differences between the WS-2000 and WS-2902? Or, can you compare the Ambient Weather WS-2000 vs WS-2902? These are great questions, and I wanted to cover it here.

Ambient Weather WS-2000 vs WS-2902: The Similarities

The WS-2000 model was released after the Ambient Weather WS-2902 had already become a very popular option among weather enthusiasts. As mentioned above, both of these home weather stations are top models. They are actually very similar to one another.

Weather Sensor Array

They both use the same Osprey Weather Sensor Array that includes sensors for temperature, humidity, wind (speed & direction), rainfall, solar radiation, and UV index. It’s a proven technology that has been available for some time on the WS-2902 before the WS-2000 was even available. It utilizes solar-power as the primary power source, reducing the need for frequent battery replacements.

Needless to say, since it’s the same Osprey sensor array, the mounting options are the same (compatible to a 1”-2” diameter pole) for both. They both include a U-bolt kit to attach a mounting solution. They also both have the same accuracy.

Connectivity

The connectivity options in the WS-2000 vs WS-2902 debate are also very similar. Both have the ability to send the weather data to the cloud via AmbientWeather.net and/or Weather Underground. Likewise, they are both smart home compatible and can play nicely with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, along with IFTTT functionality. Both implement wireless technology and don’t require any additional hardware for connecting via WI-FI. This is a big plus over some competitive weather station brands that do require such a device.

Ambient Weather WS-2902 vs WS-2000: The Differences

So, there are obviously many things that are the same between these two models, but there are also several differentiators. You could say the WS-2000 is an upgraded version of the WS-2902.

Display Module

The largest and most noticeable difference between the WS-2902 and the WS-2000 is the display. The “legacy” WS-2902 provided the user with a very basic color film LCD display. It is lower end technology, uses a dark screen only, and can be hard to see at certain angles. It does, however, have both an AC adapter and battery backup. Lastly, in the case of the WS-2902 display, it houses the sensors for the indoor temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure readings.

In contrast, the newer WS-2000 provides the user with a very nice high-definition TFT LCD display. It’s a thin, tablet-style, display that can be configured with either a light or dark background. You really are comparing apples to oranges between these displays. There is no doubt that the WS-2000 has far and away the better user experience when it comes to the display.

Not everything is rosy though. Depending on your needs with the weather station, there’s another change that could be a huge benefit, or perhaps even a detriment to the newer WS-2000 model. This is because the sensors for the indoor temperature, humidity, and pressure are no longer in the display module. They are now in a separate sensor. Now, if you really wanted to have the indoor sensors take readings in your living room, but would prefer the display to sit on the desk in your kitchen, this is an awesome feature!

However, the flip side could leave you wanting the WS-2902. For example, you want the sensor and the display in the kitchen. Now, you need to find a place for both of them. In most cases it’s probably not a big deal. You can just hide the sensor somewhere nearby if you don’t want it sitting out.

All things considered, the WS-2000 comes out on top when comparing the displays.

Expandability

With the WS-2902, what you see is what you get. There are 7 outdoor sensors and 3 indoor sensors for a total of 10. That’s pretty good, right? Well, the WS-2000 of course boasts the same 10 sensors as a standard. But, it’s expandable and can have up to EIGHT additional thermo-hygrometer sensors connected at one time! This means you can have sensors all over the house if you want to. Perhaps one in the basement, one in the cellar, one in your humidor, etc, and so on. You get the point. The options are now endless.

The WS-2000 is definitely better when considering expandability. It can do everything the WS-2902 can do, plus more.

Affordability

So, there are several additional options that make the functionality and user experience better on the WS-2000.

The first question is, what’s it going to cost you?

At the time of this writing, there is about a 40% premium on the WS-2000 model when compared to the WS-2902.

Okay, so it is it worth it?

Well, of course that’s a question you’ll have to answer for yourself. I think it depends on your needs and potential uses for the weather station. If you plan on this being your primary weather station for years to come, it probably is. If you could really use the additional sensors, there’s no doubt that it’s worth it. You’d pay more than the difference to setup a 3rd party network remote temperature sensors.

However, if you’re just looking to get into an entry-level home weather station and these things don’t really matter to you, then save your money. It doesn’t add any additional value for you in this case.

Ambient Weather WS-2000

Ambient Weather WS-2902

Ambient Weather WS-2000 vs WS-2902: Final Notes

Time to wrap up with a quick summary. The display and functionality of the WS-2000 are superior to the ever popular Ambient WS-2902, but you’ll pay roughly 40% more to achieve it. I’ve given you enough here to decide for yourself which fits your needs. I really do feel you’ll be happy with either choice in this case. Good Luck!